CVE-2010-2995 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The SigComp Universal Decompressor Virtual Machine (UDVM) in Wireshark 0.10.8 through 1.0.14 and 1.2.0 through 1.2.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors related to sigcomp-udvm.c and an off-by-one error, which triggers a buffer overflow, different vulnerabilities than CVE-2010-2287.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2995 represents a critical security flaw within the SigComp Universal Decompressor Virtual Machine implementation in Wireshark versions ranging from 0.10.8 through 1.0.14 and 1.2.0 through 1.2.9. This issue specifically affects the sigcomp-udvm.c component where an off-by-one error manifests as a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited remotely by attackers. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during the processing of SigComp compressed messages, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted input data can cause the application to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Wireshark processes specially crafted SigComp compressed packets that contain malformed data structures within the Universal Decompressor Virtual Machine. The off-by-one error in the buffer management logic allows attackers to write beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions or overwriting critical program data structures. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that can lead to memory corruption. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through network traffic analysis, meaning that simply opening a malicious packet capture file or processing network traffic containing the crafted packets can result in system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for packet analysis and network monitoring. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable versions of Wireshark, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The denial of service aspect alone is problematic as it can disrupt critical network monitoring operations and forensic analysis activities. Organizations using Wireshark for security operations, incident response, or network troubleshooting face substantial risk if they continue to operate vulnerable versions, as the attack surface extends beyond simple network traffic analysis to include potential system infiltration.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate version updates to Wireshark 1.2.10 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow conditions in the SigComp implementation. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block known malicious SigComp packet patterns. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of remote code execution through network services, and demonstrates how network analysis tools can themselves become attack vectors when not properly secured and maintained. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced across all network security tools to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in operational environments.